by L M Lacee
She had always hoped to see one, even a replica would have satisfied her but to see a real one was beyond her wildest dreams. She ran her finger along the flat side of the blade in a caress of wonder and delight.
“Do you know what it is lassie?” Fin asked. Harper had been aware he was walking slowly towards her for the last two or so minutes. She appreciated his consideration in allowing her time to know he was coming. “Oh yes.” She breathed out in awe “It is an ‘Ulfberht’! Goddess it is gorgeous! I always dreamed of seeing an original although I would have happily settled for a replica but this… this is just beautiful.”
“Thank you, it was commissioned many years ago, so long I am unsure of the date now as with all Ulfberht blades, it was made for my hand alone.”
Harper wheezed out a breath, “Give me strength, for your own hand.” Fin grinned at her tone as he took it down and turned it over so she could see his name was etched in the steel, Finlay Slorah.
“I had read that Ulfberht liked to do that and I always wondered if it was true.” Harper said, awe coating her words.
“Now you know it is.”
“Yes I do.”
“You know blades?”
“I do, I have a few, none like this. I run more to Katanas.”
“I have a few of those not here yet but I will have them by the end of next week, we are still un-loading our collections.” He explained as he replaced the sword.
Harper dragged her eyes away from the blade and was immediately seized by the broad sword that stood upright on the wall, she walked to it and ran her fingers down its blade. “Oh, who is we?”
“Myself, I am as you saw Fin Slorah, your sister’s shadow Storm and Lars who you know is Storm’s nest brother and Prime to the Dragon Lord.”
“Oh I see, you guys are combining your hordes and are showcasing them?” She looked at him to find his eyes on her.
“Yes we allow people to train with some of the weapons and we teach.”
“That is so cool! So where do you do that?”
“Underneath we have a shooting range and several rooms for sword and martial arts.”
“So can anyone use them?”
“Of course they can, do you wish to train lass?”
“Yes I do, not today though, I am just looking around but it would be great to have a place I can train with my knives and swords.”
“Well please feel free to come back anytime, we are open twenty four hours. If I am not here one of our assistants will be or Lars or Storm.”
“Thank you Lord …”
“No it is just Fin.”
“Oh I think you are not just anything Fin.” She smiled and said. “My name is Harper so I will see you soon. Good day.”
Fin inclined his head as he said. “Good day to you Harper.”
She left Broadswords happier than she had been before she entered, she now knew of a place to train and she had realized one of her dreams and more importantly she could see the sword at any time.
Harper walked down the main street. There were people everywhere walking, talking, laughing sitting at outside cafe tables and having coffee at a place that looked busy. There was a place called Tessa’s it looked like an old fashioned tea house that too was busy for ten o’clock in the morning.
Harper did not really look around last time she was here, she had been more interested in finding out information from people plus Frankie had been with her and that alone was a distraction.
She would admit to herself that she was feeling exceedingly lucky as she admired the displays in the shop windows, then by the reflection of the dress shop window she saw it sitting there, taking up over half a block of the main street. ‘The Dragon’s Gap Library.’ It was truly her lucky day, first steak for dinner, a sword she never thought she would see let alone touch and now a library it was a day of gifts.
She had no idea the Gap had a library, how, she wondered did she miss this the last time she was here as she walked across the cobblestone street she decided she liked this town, it had a good feel to it maybe it was all the magic floating around or all the different species of shifters. Whatever it was, it was a good place to live and bring up young ones. On that thought she pushed open the glass door and entered a place that brought instant memories of her and Charlie escaping to their local library to hide from their father and his wife for hours at a time.
“Hey!” A tall slim female with long brown hair tied back in a ponytail greeted her. She looked like she had been ill but was back on the road to recovery. She wasn’t exactly frail looking, more someone to be careful with. Frankie would call her fragile. That was until you looked into her honey colored eyes as that was where the fragility ended, she was tempered steel. Harper liked her instantly. She reminded her of Frankie. “Hi, I am Harper Easton.”
“I am Olinda Battle.”
Harper stared at the female as she tried to imagine which of the Battle brothers who she had sort of met, was bonded to this female. Olinda asked with smile hovering around her mouth. “Are you trying to think of which brother I am with?”
“Yep!”
“Oh well it is Ash.”
“Huh! I have not met him. I know Axl and Ark, so are there any more?”
“Yes altogether there are four, the oldest Ace and then my Ash and their brothers Ark and Axl.”
Harper frowned. “Why do their names all start with an A?”
Olinda shrugged. “I think their father who was an asshole, had designs to make them the Elite Shields or something, so short names starting with A for Alpha.”
“Well he succeeded as they are… Well… the ones I have met are very Alpha.”
“I know right. So are you new to town?”
“I am, this is a wonderful place. I like libraries they give you peace and refuge.”
“Thank you. I and Keeper, have you met him?”
“No he is brother of Reighn's right?”
“Yes Keeper is bonded to Ella, she is a healer, her uncle is Fin.”
“Oh I just came from Broadswords which is another amazing place.”
Olinda nodded. “I think so too. I go there to train with guns and do knife work as Ash calls it. What do you do?”
“I use anything with a blade, to be honest I don’t like guns much. I can use them but prefer my blades.” Harper told her as she looked around and spied a coffee bar. In the library so cool. Olinda’s eyes widened as she listened to Harper talk and as her silence impinged on Harper, she swung her eyes back to her. “Oh you didn’t mean that?”
Olinda shook her head. “Well not really, but good to know. So do you want a tour?”
“Sure, can we get coffee first?”
“Now that is no problem.” Olinda turned and started talking about the library and how it came about as they walked into the large sitting room with a coffee counter. “Wow this is like someone’s lounge you know?”
Olinda looked pleased. “I know we wanted somewhere people could come to sit and read, talk and meet friends. I know there are cafe’s and places like Tessa’s but they run on profits, we run on comfort if someone nods off for a nap, no one wakes them and ushers them from the building.”
Harper looked at her as she asked. “This was your idea right?”
Olinda grinned. “Libraries were my refuge when I was young, and yes… before you ask… we have a place for kids to do the same here. The difference is we have Keeper who will speak and counsel them. You know what he does?”
“I do yes.”
“Oh good, we also have other staff that are trained to help young people.”
“I am impressed and in truth in awe.” Olinda beamed at the compliment, recognizing the female who looked so much like Charlie did not talk for the sake of talking and said what she meant. “Thank you, we work real hard at it. So Harper do you know Charlie Kingsley?”
“She is my sister.”
“I thought so, a part from the hair you are almost identical.”
“I am going to take that
as a compliment because I can hear you like her!”
Olinda grinned. “I really do! She was my first friend here.”
Harper nodded. “Even I can see that would be no hardship, you are a very nice lady. I have a friend and her name is Frankie, she is like you sweet with a rod of steel under lying all that nice stuff and she is not a unicorn so don’t go thinking it is because you are one that makes you like that!” Harper told her when she could almost see the thought forming.
“Wow! How did you know I am a unicorn and I don’t really think that?”
“Yes you do, and you are wrong, you are just a strong person, always were, always will be and as for knowing you are a unicorn, I know the same way I know Cara is. I am what they call a seeker so my gift is I can find the truth of things and people.”
“That must be disconcerting to always have to look beneath the surface of something or someone.”
Harper raised surprised eyebrows at her comment and gave Olinda her first relaxed smile and she saw why Charlie and Olinda were friends. “It is, but like all gifts, I can close it down for a while to give me relief.”
“Oh you can do that?”
“Yes it takes training.”
Olinda sighed and Harper found herself offering. “I will train you if you like?”
“Oh how did you know?
”I am a seeker Olinda.”
“Oh yeah, well normally I would have to think about your offer but I really need your help. Some of these new things I can do are disturbing so that would be wonderful. Thank you Harper.”
Not only did Olinda’s face light up with pleasure, her whole body glowed. Harper nodded and said. “So you know my friend Frankie, I spoke about?”
“Yes.”
“Well she is as new here as I am, if she comes in, and I am sure she will with Johner, who is courting her.”
“Johner is courting… Oh my, I bet Verity is ecstatic.”
“Probably.” Harper said dryly, by now they had reached the coffee counter. Harper placed her order with the young female unicorn, who asked Olinda. “Do you want your usual Princess?”
Olinda sighed. “Yes thanks Lory.” She looked at Harper and was going to apologize when Harper said before she could, as they moved to a table. “That was for my benefit, so I know whose company I am in, not to out you!”
Olinda brushed her hair off her face. “It is just so hard, getting use to them all calling me that and it is embarrassing.”
Harper shrugged as she looked around the room noticing the ten or so people huddled down with cups of tea or coffee and books or newspapers. “So order them to stop, you can or make your Ash do it, he can as well.”
Olinda grimaced thinking of Ash demanding that the unicorns refrain from calling her princess and the blood that would be spilled when they scorned the idea, which they would. “I don’t want to come off all bitchy.”
“Well then don’t ask Charlie to do it!” They both smiled thinking of Charlie’s idea of politely asking them to stop.
“Seriously though if you want it to stop don’t dither hurt feelings are easily overcome, finding yourself not wanting to mix with them will be more hurtful for the unicorns and eventually for you as you become more isolated from them. Don’t push them away because you are uncomfortable with your feelings.” Damn it! That was what she was doing to Charlie which was sound advice and I should heed it myself.
Olinda nodded. “You are right, thank you for that. I will sort it out.”
Harper asked. “Now my new friend, could you tell me who the little kitten following us is?”
Olinda looked behind her and smiled “Can you not tell?”
Harper winked at Olinda almost making her spit her coffee out as she answered. “Well no she is in disguise!”
“I see well that would be your niece Kelsey, she is in her cougar skin today as they call it, apparently she does not want to change back.”
“Uhuh! Do you know why?”
“If I had to guess. I would say she is sad her daddy took her sister Cara to visit the unicorns today.”
“Oh I see and Kelsey came to story time?”
“Yes.”
“Okay!” Harper turned around and spied the kitten under a table. She was adorable a real life grey and white fluff ball with dark tufted ears and the cutest little bob tail. Harper pointed to the kitten then her shoulder, instantly the kitten ran and jumped up onto her, then wrapped herself around Harper’s neck and shoulders as Harper asked her. “So you are a little bob tail?” The kitten butted her head against her cheek. Harper reached up and scratched her behind her ear and she purred, it was like a having a little motor vibrating against her neck.
“Wow did you know she could do that?” Asked an amazed Olinda.
Harper shrugged. “Sure, why not? She is a cat!”
Olinda grinned at the simple statement. “Well okay.”
Harper sipped her coffee then said to Olinda. “Now as I was saying Frankie will be in here at some time, do not tell her I am training you. If you do I will be training everyone she meets or whoever she feels will benefit from my help.”
“Oh she is a stray finder. I knew someone like that when I was growing up and she used to bring home stray puppies and kittens all the time.”
“In Frankie’s case, it is people who she thinks need help.”
“Does Johner know this?”
“Huh! You think I should have warned him?”
“Ahh! Yeah!”
“Well no need to get snippy. I will tell him tonight.”
Olinda grinned not at all offended. “So we should get started on this tour!”
A pleasant relaxing hour and a half later Harper had seen the library, been introduced to Claire who was holding story time, and met and fallen for Keeper. Claire and Keeper had taken one look at the kitten wrapped around Harper and smiled. When they came back to where they started from Harper thanked Olinda and asked Kelsey. “So kitten, I am going to visit your mama.” As they toured Harper had realized she had something to share with Charlie, it was her first step in becoming friends and sisters with her again. “So do you want to come with me or stay here?”
The kitten sank down more on her shoulder and purred louder. Harper looked at Olinda saying. “I am taking that as she is coming with me. Can you call Charlie for me?”
“Why don’t you?”
“Oh my phone won’t work here.”
“No you need a Gap phone. They have their own network, none of your laptops or stuff will work unless you buy new or get it changed, which I had to do.” She laughed then told her. “Edith threw hers into a wall so June said, she is a bear and on occasion short tempered.”
“That must have really piss… annoyed her?” Remembering not to swear as she had a kitten with big ears on her shoulder. Olinda could not help the smile spreading over her face at Harper’s hastily revised words thinking of Edee’s swear jar rule.
“Right!”
Edith, Harper knew was Sharm the healers shadow, another brother to Reighn. The couple were away on a vacation at some beach for another few days. Harper wanted to meet her as she owned the art gallery that was getting ready to open, she hoped Edith would show her work. Harper said. “Okay so we will go to the phone shop first then to Kelsey’s home.”
“Or you could meet Kelsey’s mom at a certain kitten’s favorite hamburger place, just past the phone shop!” As Olinda said this the kittens head came up and she pricked her little ears. Harper nodded. “Well if you could ask Charlie to meet us there, if not we will go to her place after lunch.”
“No problem. I will get Kelsey’s bag for you.”
Kittens did not shift with clothes on as older shifters did so having extra clothes with them always helped. Harper looked around her as she petted the kitten, when Olinda came back with a red back pack she said to Olinda. “You need a clothes changing room with spare clothes for the young ones.”
Olinda stared around her, “Why?”
“For the kits an
d cubs plus other young ones that shift.”
Olinda frowned as she said. “Not that many young shift most are half breeds like me.”
Harper smiled as Keeper joined them again, he asked when he saw them talking. “Olinda is everything okay?”
“Harper said we should have a changing room and spare sets of clothes for the kits and cubs. I was just explaining not that many shift!” Keeper eyed the small female that was so startling like Charlie and asked. “You think we will need it?”
Harper lent nearer. “I think that what was not possible once, is probable now.” He looked thoughtful for a few minutes then said. “We will make sure we have a room set aside. I will have mama and Grace see about clothing.”
Harper nodded and said. “We are off, if you could make that call thanks Olinda and thanks for the tour. I will call you with a time for lessons.”
“Oh okay bye.” Olinda and Keeper waved as they watched her and Kelsey leave. Keeper said. “Does she unnerve you?”
“No, does she you?”
He smiled. “No I like her.”
“Me too a lot, she is insightful and is going to help me learn control.”
“And what will Ash say about that?”
“What after he investigates her.”
“Yes after that!” He said with a laugh in his voice.
“Probably okay.”
Olinda called Charlie as Harper and the kitten Kelsey went into the electronic shop. She found a phone she liked as well as a laptop and tablet, then the assistant, a nice female lion, sold her a music app for her phone and loaded it with music that Harper liked. She then showed her how to get more. No one seemed to bat an eye at the kitten on her shoulder, maybe it was normal for Dragon’s Gap.
As they left Harper told Kelsey it was a good shopping experience, the kitten butted her head against her cheek in agreement. Harper took that to mean she enjoyed it as well or it could have been the idea of food that prompted the action.
They found the hamburger place easily, spotting the large umbrellas over wooden outside tables in a beautiful tranquil courtyard. It was delightful just the setting alone made you want to stop, relax and eat.
